The internet broke in half yesterday when longtime hip-hop scribe Dream Hampton suggested that Nas had used both Jay Electronica and Stic.Man as ghostwriters for the his Untitled LP. She tweeted, “I think Jay writes what he believes. Nas “Nigger” album was largely written by Stic of dead prez and Jay Electronica.”

Jay Electronica has since responded on Twitter, “Nas is one of the greatest ever. Never has and never will need a ghostwriter. that man’s pen and legacy is without question.”

While this statement doesn’t deny the use of one – it only suggests he doesn’t “need” one, Stic Man’s statement left little to the imagination, released via his Facebook.

“As far as the rumors about myself and Jay Electronica ghostwriting for Nas, let me say this. Nas is one of the, if not the, most prolific original lyricist to EVER do it. My contributions to his album was a collaboration and an honor and under his direction of what he wanted to convey and say. Haters can’t discredit that man’s genius. Nas is The Don.”

He continues, “Dream Hampton. I certainly don’t mean to call u a hater. I am just being brough up to speed about your tweet. I heard the “rumors” from other tweets and a few emails from fans. I still haven’t read your tweet. So my statement was just being clear on how I felt about the collab. That was a great opportunity for me to work with one of the most influential emcees to my own personal flow and craft. I can’t speak on what Jay and Nas collab was cause I wasn’t there and that’s (their) business. Both of those cats are awesome lyricists in my opinion. But for me I was just a white belt that answered the call for a session with a master of the craft. And I assisted where it was requested with ideas, beats, and some writing. Not because Nas “needed” me lol… Again I was just honored to get the call. Nas new album Life Is Good is lyrically magnificent and his skills have always spoken for them self. So that’s just my view I respect that folks may [feel] different ways about it. Just clarifying my position.”

“And I referred to it as a “rumor” because obviously no one of the people talking about
it were present in the session. So people can sometimes think they know but weren’t present, so they speak on what they think as opposed to being there,” he aded.

What do we think? Who knows, who cares. The creative process for making a song is not limited to one person. Dead Prez or Jay Electronica may have given ideas for hooks, beats, samples, or even entire verses. But Nas’ track record speaks for itself. And guess what, this wouldn’t be the first time a classic song or album had more than one writer attached to it – this has happened in rock music many times over the last sixty years.

he’s still one of the best of all time. he’s part of a major record label that probably wanted him to put out a record so he put a team together to get the album done. i’m sure when jay is spittin people give him suggestions to change lines or other people inspire him. this story is bs, no press is bad press. hopefully this sells more copies of “life is good”.

Love Nas to death, but it’s a valid question. His flow is more choppy and ill-timed in the last few years compared to a flawless flow throughout his output of his young twenties. I wouldn’t doubt it. As prolific as the God is, you can’t be making up fly shit your whole life. It comes a time where you’ve given all you can give. Another perfect verse like Verbal intercourse or life’s a bitch is just unreasonable to ask after 20 years in. Never been a fan of Stic Man or Dead Prez’s style from beats to rhymes, so probably that’s why I didn’t care for Nigger. Nas always been socially and racially concsious, but I question the inspiration when he goes super-serious and militant. I’m not one to validate rumors, but Dream Hampton has a pretty credible journalistic track record in Hip-Hop far as I know. I wouldn’t expect her to run her yap unnecessarily.